Large lock at Ballard Locks could be closed all week

The large lock at the Ballard Locks is still closed after being struck by lightning Sunday night. “We may be out the rest of the week,” Patricia Graesser with the Army Corps of Engineers tells us. It’s taking longer than the anticipated one day to restore the electrical system. The small lock is still open, …

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Ballard Locks hit by lightning

That deafening thunder many people in Ballard heard (and felt) last night was actually preceded by lightning right at our doorsteps. According to the Corps of Engineers, the Ballard Locks was hit by lightning, knocking power out to the large locks. The large locks will be closed today for repair. The small locks are still …

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Feedback sought for landscaping at Ballard Locks

Most of the property that the Corps of Engineers manages at the Locks and nearby Ship Canal is on the National Historic Registry. The property on the south side of the Locks near the fish ladder is not. The Corps is in the very initial phases of determining how to manage the property from here …

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Last weekend for free concerts at the Locks

This weekend marks the unofficial end to summer and it’s the final weekend for free concerts at the Locks. The line-up this weekend includes the Patria Band (Country Gospel Music) from 2 to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Dissonance Jazz Combo from 2 to 3:30 p.m. on Sunday. The Michael Clune & Sleep till Noon Band …

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Locks closed to boats Tuesday morning

Both the large and small locks at the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks will be closed to all marine traffic from 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. tomorrow. The closure is needed so that dive teams can inspect the salmon exclusion structure immediately upstream of the locks. The Corps of Engineers, which operates the locks, installed an …

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Father’s Day concert at the Locks

Each weekend during the summer groups perform at the Ballard Locks. This weekend the Nordic Heritage Museum Children’s Dance will perform on Saturday from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. On Father’s Day, the Elliott Bay Pipe Band will perform. “This is the 10th (?) year that we’ve been doing this event and it’s our favorite …

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Locks closed to inspect salmon exclusion structure

Just as the salmon migration gets underway, the large and small locks will be closed to marine traffic so construction and dive crews can inspect the salmon exclusion structure. The closure is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesday, although crews may finish up early allowing the locks to re-open ahead of schedule. …

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Fish ladder closed for cleaning

The fish ladder at the Ballard Locks is closed for its annual cleaning. Photo Courtesy of USACE/Historical Collection Lake Washington Ship Canal “Most of the fish ladder plaza area and the ramp to the viewing room will be closed to the public,” states the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) website. The cleaning, which got …

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Schooner crew serenades Locks’ visitors

The crew of the Adventuress serenaded visitors with sea chanteys at the Ballard Locks this morning on its way to the Center for Wooden Boats. The 97-year-old tall ship is one of 25 finalists hoping to win a $125,000 Partners in Preservation grant. Crewmembers on the Adventuress made a plea to spectators to vote for …

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Bird watching at the Ballard Locks

All eyes were to the sky Sunday morning as a group of a dozen people went on a bird walk at the Ballard Locks. The group was led by Master Birders Penny Rose and Scott Hoskin. Penny is a naturalist at Discovery Park and runs Ramblin Rose Birding Adventures. This morning’s walk was Hoskin’s idea …

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Fish flumes return to Ballard Locks

A visually cool feature is returning to the Ballard Locks.  Today and tomorrow, the Army Corps of Engineers is reinstalling four fish flumes in some of the spillway gates.  The flumes help young salmon and steelhead move safely through the Locks on their way to Puget Sound.    When fish pass through the flumes an electronic …

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